Menorah Parade to Bring Chanukah Light Through Times Square

By COLlive reporter

Residents and visitors in New York City are preparing for a bright display of Jewish pride as the annual Menorah Parade will take place on Tuesday night, the third night of Chanukah. Organizers say this year’s parade will follow an expanded route to bring even more light to Manhattan.

Rabbi Mordechai Hirsch, director of the parade, explained that the procession will be expanded this year, and will go through the world-famous Times Square, usually packed with people and tourists from around the world, especially during the holiday season.

“This year, we are strengthening and enlarging the parade in response to the world’s growing need for light. We need more light in the world, and we are actually adding to the parade,” Hirsch said.

Each year the parade traditionally passes the World’s Largest Menorah and continues down Fifth Avenue, bringing the joy of Chanukah to millions in the streets of New York City. Last year, organizers introduced a longer route to enhance the experience.

This year the parade will be expanded in a more structured way, organizers said, making it easier for participating cars to remain with the parade. In addition to the classic Fifth Avenue route, the parade will make its way through Times Square, bringing the glow of Chanukah to one of the busiest crossroads in the world.

Rabbi Hirsch said the goal is to hit up many neighborhoods in Manhattan, lighting up New York City and creating a powerful display of Jewish unity and celebration of the Chanukah holiday.